31 March 2013

We would sing and dance around, because we know we can't be found

Sherlock was up early this morning, thundering around the mill. He came and leapt on us, gave John a birthday hug, and I took him downstairs to feed him and issue his clues for the Easter Egg hunt.

He impatiently waited for Mycroft and Anthea, I gave them their clues too ;) and they all headed out into the cold to hunt for chocolate eggs. I'd tried to be clever...given clues to dates, via important moments in history, which they then had to find on gravestones. Or similarly, clues to names. And then managed a few that were about plants and trees and things... Basically, I needed everyone to be entertained for a bit. Whilst I....entertained John, for a bit.

So I headed back upstairs....

Some time later they returned, laden with eggs, and we all met back in the kitchen for a birthday breakfast.

Here's John's 'Guest Paragraph' because he didn't want to break the rhythm of our posting...

"So I think I mentioned that when I was asked what I wanted for my birthday and I said socks, I got looks... (I now understand my father slightly better. I always thought he was ridiculously boring when he asked for socks, but they really are useful.) I came down this morning to find three grinning boys and a table set beautifully for breakfast...and littered with socks. All of them were the wrong way out, just to drive me mad. :) In addition to the socks, L had conspired to get me - and I would never have guessed this in a thousand years - an allotment! Or half of one, to share with, I believe, a friend of Mrs Hudson's, which is good, because a) it's huge and b) I don't really know how to garden. I mean, I worked in my mum's a bit when I was growing up; I'm probably a better gardener than, for example, a cook, but I'm sure I'll need advice. It's a completely unexpected gift, but really sort of perfect - and Sherlock and Mycroft have promised to help, so it'll keep all three of us out of trouble for the summer. And L can cook whatever we end up growing! "And here is Sherlock's drawing he gave John. It depicts him, helping John on the allotment. Sherlock is keen to point out that he's wearing his leather jacket.

And I'm keen to point out that John is only the size of a carrot, apparently. Or he's growing some truly massive mutant carrots. (I go for the former)

Sherlock moaned that he didn't have a grey pencil for John's grey hair :) And he got bored doing the sky.

Anyway, the allotment was a bit of a gamble, really...and I'm glad John likes the idea. Sherlock is very keen to help. I'd picked out some seed packets, and so had Mrs Hudson, so we'd wrapped up some of those too. Hopefully it'll give us all something educational to work on, and have fun doing together.

Edit: And no, I have no idea why that's gone white and...it doesn't matter, does it.

Danger - YES, you can. The waiting list is...well, if we could have joined it now (which we couldn't, because it's currently closed) then we MIGHT have got something by the time we retire. That's partly why Reg was worried, because he finds it hard to keep the whole plot up and running, they could have thrown him off. So this works for both of us. Plus Mrs H says you have to keep an eye on him, because he lives on his own, and she worries he doesn't take care of himself.

I want to grow tomatoes, potatoes, squash, some corn, some salad stuff, maybe sweet potatoes, artichokes, and some soft fruits? I think Reg has a multi-grafted apple tree. I'm happy with anything, though - it'll be fantastic growing our own food.

You know what Mrs H is like. She doesn't believe I take care of myself either, and I'm sure is convinced I'd be six feet under without you keeping an eye on me ;)

We should probably get a book anyway, tell us about...well, sun, and soil, and how much space things need to grow. Stuff like that. And maybe plan what'll be ready to eat when, so we have things all year around.

potatoes are easy John, dig a trench, put them in a decent space apart and cover with just enough soil, once they start growing earth them up so that no potatoes are visable but the leaves are and keep doing that until they flower and the leaves to die back and then dig them up and enjoy :-)

you have a seriously long list there Greg! it'll be fun seeing what you cook with it all in a few months time ;-)

What an awesome gift! Really cool. Hope you find a previously undiscovered green thumb, John! I really love the idea of growing my own food, but the reality is that sadly the green thumb skipped this particular generation of my family :( My former housemate had it in spades, though, and grew us capsicum and eggplant and chillis and potatoes and more. It's fantastic to make a meal from things from your own garden!

My birthday last year, a friend tried to buy me a chance to host a bee hive! There's this scheme to encourage bees back into inner city areas, and you can have a hive put in your backyard. I didn't have enough room to qualify, though :( I bet Sherlock would be up for something like that!

And that's a great drawing, Sherlock. Bet you have heaps of fun with John in the allotment!

That's an amazing gift. There are a lot of community gardens in Boston, and it seems like everyone who's managed to get one plants something different. You might want to wander around a few allotments for ideas, John. Sunflowers are popular here, for attracting finches.

woo hoo! A garden! My mom was a huge gardener, and a big mover and shaker in the Boston urban gardening community. RSF, did you ever go on the South End Garden Tour? if so you may have met her.I have more space where I live now, than she did in town (but not where I grew up), but seems like all I can do is mow and de-jungle. And try to keep a few flowers from being overwhelmed. Luckily my sister has a big garden and sometimes brings me extra vegies. :)S